Friday 31 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION FRIDAY 31st MAY, 2013 HE FEELS LIKE YOU DO BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Read: Acts 9:1-6
Bible in one year: Colossians 3-4

If you are the apple of God's eyes, you will be required to channel God's love to those who are hurting. According to 1 John 4:7-8, this includes fellow believers; else you cannot claim to even know God. That is part of your responsibility it is an obligation. Being the apple of God's eyes does not start and end with obligations, there are benefits, rights and privileges that accrue from this relationship with God. If somebody is playing with you, the fellow can hit almost any part of your body, but not your eyes. Anyone who touches your eyes is out to provoke you. If you are the apple of God's eyes, whoever touches you, touches God, and is playing with the Consuming Fire.
"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Isaiah 63:9
This verse tells us that the Lord suffers whenever the apple of His eyes is suffering. He does not just show sympathy but He empathises! A man and his eyes are one. If you hurt the eye of an individual, he will feel it throughout his whole body. If you feel that something is getting towards your eyes, what will you do? Even without thinking, you will not wait for it to get there before you dodge or block it. In Acts 9:1-6, when Saul was heading for Damascus to touch the apples of God's eyes, the Lord met him on the way and arrested him. God preempted Saul on that journey and asked why he was persecuting Him. Anyone touching you is touching the Lord. Whatever you are going through, He is going through it with you. Hebrews 4:15 says He feels your infirmities and trials; hence He wants you to communicate with Him over any disturbing situation so that He can take it away. God stands by the apple of His eyes to any extent. Beloved, God is with you. He feels exactly what you feel. He has a stake in what concerns you. Being the apple of His eyes, He knows most of what you are suffering is because of His name you bear. He will uphold you. He will stop your enemies before they hatch their evil plans against you. Remember, He loves you.

Prayer point: Father, grant me the full benefits of being the apple of Your eyes.

Thursday 30 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION THURSDAY 30th MAY, 2013 WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: But ye put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14

Read: Genesis 3:20-21
Bible in one Year: Colossians 1-2

If you are God's representative or champion, He is very much interested in your dressing. You must be clean and you must not ridicule the Name of Jesus whom you represent. No dress that exposes your nakedness is allowed. If you are fuelling lust in the hearts of the opposite sex by virtue of your dressing, then you are representing something else other than the Lord. Before you put on any dress, you must ask yourself: Will this dress please the Lord? Does it cover my nakedness? Would Jesus put on this same dress while He was on earth? Will people who see me wearing this dress glorify God or Satan? Do I have inner peace wearing what I am wearing?
For want of means to afford something better, some people are dressed in rags. If you cannot afford good clothes, the Lord will open doors for you to have them in Jesus name.
"Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21
God's concern about the clothes of His champions did not just start; it started from the beginning. When God created Adam and Eve, He dressed them up in Heaven's designer wears- His own glory. God covers Himself with glory and because He created His champions in His own image, He covered them with the same covering. That is, Adam and Eve wore the same dress that God wore. No wonder they had tremendous power and control. You are addressed by the dress you put on. If you dress in royal robes with a crown, even without introducing yourself, people who meet you will treat you as a king. They will show you uncommon regards and treat you with honour. Because Adam wore God's clothes, the animals regarded him as they regarded God their Creator. But the day they sinned and lost God's clothes, God gave them animal hide for clothes; no wonder the animals rebelled against them. In Christ Jesus, you can be back in control by not only wearing clothes that reflect God's glory but also by wearing God the Son in the person of Jesus Christ. Are you wearing what will give you authority or undermine your authority?

Key point: You cannot wear Jesus Christ and not be treated like Him. This is the only true way to stay in dominion.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION WEDNESDAY 29th MAY, 2013 ABRAHAM RESTITUTED BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 2 Corinthians 6:3

Read: Genesis 13:14-18
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 46-48

Besides restituting in the areas of robbing people, lying concerning certain issues, etc., we need to also restitute in our dealings with God. This relates to instructions He has given to us. For instance, in Genesis 12:1-3, God made some powerful promises to Abraham subject to only three conditions. He fulfilled two of the conditions and felt the third one was unnecessary. In fact, he thought people will call him names for sending away his late brother's son from living with him. By so doing, he mixed his petrol (gas) with water and everything began to go wrong. One day, as the problem became exacerbated and was now affecting peace in his home, he realised what he did and asked Lot to seperate from him.

In Genesis 13:14-18, after that restitution, God resumed with him from where he stopped some 13 years earlier. In other words, his refusal to obey the third condition only fixed him on the same spot for that long! Beloved, as long as there is water in your petrol (gas), you might not hear from God. Have you stopped hearing from God and it bothers you? Check your life for any pending restitution and immediately settle the issue. Have you obeyed God in certain areas but failed to do so in one or more areas? Go and restitute today so that you can begin to make progress at the rate God intended for you. If you pay your tithes and offerings and the blessings are not coming, there may be some restitution hiding somewhere which you need to make. Until his restitution, Abraham's beautiful wife that was a source of his joy became a source of sorrow as he ran from famine. He lost his wife and could have been killed but for God's mercy. If you are constantly getting into trouble, find out if there is a pending restitution.

Key point: If you harbour a pending restitution, your progress will be impeded

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION TUESDAY 28th MAY, 2013 UNUSUAL COMMANDS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Read: Matthew 4:2-4
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 43-45

It is a great thing to benefit from God’s favour because | His favour completely wipes out emptiness. The I favour of God is also dangerous. Why you may ask? It's because the favour of God can convert the goods of enemies and oppressors into spoils for the favoured. In Exodus 3:22, God said,
"But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians"
Considering this scripture, one will discover that, it is dangerous to rob, steal from, deny or cheat a believer. You may be permitted to do so for a long whi le but on the day the favour of God falls on that individual, you may have to forfeit both what you took or stole as well what rightfully belongs to you. Your belongings might supernaturally move into his or her hands and you will be unable to prevent this trend of loss. Therefore if you have taken anything from any of God's children, or if you are impeding their promotion, release it now with pleas before it is too late for you!
At any point in time it is important to know what God is currently saying concerning a given situation. To walk in God's favour, you need to know the word that is proceeding from God's mouth. Jesus said we ought to live by this day by day (Matthew 4:4). Such word was it that gave the children of Israel their unpaid wages of 430 years. Sometimes this proceeding word might contradict your known theology and might even defy logic, however you are duty bound to obey. For instance, God who has commanded us to pray for all men might stop you from praying for a particular individual. It happened to Samuel concerning Saul (1 Samuel 16:1). Also, God may ask you not to give to a particular individual or project under certain circumstances. If God gives you such instructions and you have confirmed He is the One, simply obey. It means what God is saying at that point in time supersedes whatever He has said before on the subject matter.

Key point: What God said in the past is important but what He is saying now is more important and urgent.

Monday 27 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION MONDAY 27th MAY, 2013 SIGNS ARE LIMITED BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: For we walk by faith, not by sight: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Read: Matthew 7:21-23
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 40-42

Signs and wonders are important tools for church growth. Yet, as great as they are, they have their limitations. A Christian is called to a life of faith not a life controlled by sight. Signs and wonders are primarily meant for unbelievers while believers are expected to believe even without seeing. To unbelievers, seeing is believing but to his followers, Jesus says: if you believe then you will see John 11:40). That is pure faith! In other words, for a believer, it is your faith that will bring your expectation into reality. So, if you lack faith in God in a particular area of life, you may not see anything.
Signs and wonders have their limitations hence you need to reorder your priorities in line with the reality of God's word. For instance, it is possible to perform miracles and be unable to make it to Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). Some bonafide servants of God who walked in the miraculous are in hell, and many more will join them because of pride. What brought Lucifer down if not pride? If you cannot ask God to clothe you with humility and meekness while He is performing signs and wonders through you, then it is safer to let the power go. Some anointed of God who are operating in signs and wonders but are secretly sinning, unfortunately believe all is well because some miracles still attend their ministry. All is not well! In his backslidden state, Eli still made a prophetic declaration concerning Hannah at Shiloh and it came to pass. But how did he end his life? If you are living in secret sin but still see miracles being performed through you, you ought to be really scared. Such miracles can never take you to Heaven. It is holiness and purity of heart that will. Moreover, the devil can perform magic. Not every ‘ prophet is of God even when they claim to heal the sick and perform miracles. Some believers, in their desperate search for miracles have ended up with magic. Everyone who receives magic from Satan comes under his control and manifestation, whether they know it or not and whether they like it or not. Have you received something from Satan? Return it today!

Action Point: Believers who often run after miracles from place to place end up as preys of Satan. Pursue Jesus and you will find Him.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SUNDAY 26th MAY, 2013 HOW SACRIFICIAL? BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Read: Mark 10:28-30
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 37-39

The level of sacrifice you are prepared to make towards God is another factor that reveals your level of commitment to God. Sacrifice and love go hand in hand. You are prepared to sacrifice something for the one you love. For instance, .when a man is courting a woman he really loves, he would do virtually anything for her to convince her of his love. Although, unfortunately, after he has succeeded in marrying her, he may not be willing to make such sacrifices anymore. The ideal thing is that he should even do more for her. God so loved the man He created that He sent His only Begotten Son to die for them John 3:16). But God did not stop there. Romans 8:32 says,
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things"
This means that having given us Jesus His best gift, there is nothing He cannot give to us. What can you give to the Lord? What level of sacrifice are you prepared to make for God's Kingdom? In Mark 10:28-30, we see how the love of the 12 disciples made them to leave everything in order to follow the Lord Jesus. What have you left for Jesus? If you truly love Him, you will sacrifice anything for Him.
Closely allied to this is that the one who is committed to Christ will be time compliant when it comes to the things of God. If you are committed to the Lord, you will take His appointments very seriously. You will not go late for church services; in fact, you will be the first to arrive for sanitation, evangelism or any other area of service you are involved in. If you are always dodging Sunday school, it shows you are very low in commitment. If the president of your country were to give you an appointment where you will be given a contract of several billion dollars, would you go late? If the appointment is at 10 a.m. some people will get there by 5 a.m. But when the President of presidents gives you an appointment or calls a meeting, why keep Him waiting for you? Some people will keep Him waiting for hours. It is because they are not committed. From today, prove your commitment by becoming time compliant.

Key point: The rich fool thought he was in control of his harvest until God separated him from it and he suffered a great loss. If you hold tightly to what you have than is necessary, you may be calling for a separation.

Saturday 25 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SATURDAY 25th MAY, 2013 GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Psalm 115:3

Read: Psalm 115:1-3
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 34-36

In John 5:2-9, the Lord Jesus Christ walked into the colony of sick folks by the pool of Bethesda, healed one man and took His leave. Why just one man? What about the rest? Would He not have received a greater level of glory by healing all the sick folks there? From this we learn that the Lord just wanted to establish His sovereignty. Psalm 115:3 says,
“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased."
We understand from the scriptures that He prayed for Peter to overcome a most trying moment (Luke 22:31), whereas He told Judas Iscariot to speedily execute his evil intention John 13:27). May God's sovereignty work in your favour and not against you in Jesus name.
During major programmes of The Redeemed Christian Church of God such as the Congress, Convention or Special Holy Ghost Services, We usually see God at work, performing spectacular miracles, healing diverse sicknesses, setting the captives free and saving souls. On a particular occasion, the Lord said He would heal 144,000 people in one night. That year, at the end of the Congress, I saw a man who was brought in on a wheel chair returning in the wheel chair. Later in my office, after thanking God for the great things He had done I asked Him why the man who returned on the wheel chair was not healed. That he came to the camp alone shows that he had faith, and I told God I knew He could do everything. Thereafter the Lord replied, "So that you may know that you are not God. It does not matter how mightily you are being used. You are still a human being. If you don't like it, sue me". This is why anyone who has common sense at all should fear Him. Some people think they can keep something from God. In the true sense of it, you cannot. He gave you all you have and He can take anything He has given to you. He owns you and everything you have, so what can you really keep from Him? If He wants to take anything you call your possession, nothing can stop Him. He only allows you to use your freewill so that He can bless you. God's sovereignty simply tells you to fear God beyond everything else; do you?

Action point: Thank God for making you who you are and for giving you all you've got. Pray that His purpose for your life might never be defeated.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION FRIDAY 24th MAY, 2013 SURRENDER ALL! BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ Philippians 3:7

Read; Philippians 3:4-8
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 31-33

Dedication is sustaining your effort on an increasing level over a given assignment, until it is done. On the other hand consecration is to surrender all-to put in all it takes-prayer, energy, talents, connections and everything. It is to be committed to something without reservation - to be wholly devoted to a cause. In Philippians 1:21, Paul said:
"'For to me to live is Christ,; and to die is gain"
By this Paul was saying whether alive or dead, his life revolves around Jesus Christ. The disciples of Jesus Christ left everything in order to follow the Lord. What have you left to follow Him? How consecrated are you to the Lord after singing for years: Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee1?
A classic example of consecration in scriptures is the three Hebrew children - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They humbly but boldly looked up at the king and said, 'Oh king, long may you rule! On the matter of idolatry, we will not compromise our stand by violating the commandment of our God. He is able to deliver us; but even if he is not willing to deliver us now, we really do not mind because we are ready to burn in your fire than to violate His Word'.
A female evangelist went to preach in a village in East Africa. Thereafter, she decided to do the same in the next village. She was told that going there was very dangerous as she faced the risk of being eaten by lions on the way. Yet she was not deterred. Then an old man offered to go with her. He told her lions will only attack if they are hungry so he decided to be food for the lions by going ahead of her so that she can safely get to that village. This is consecration! In those days, consecration was rife among Christians, but today, it appears it has disappeared from the registers, of most Christians. To surrender all means to give your spouse, children, reputation and wealth to the Lord. When someone heard that I had left my job as a lecturer to become a pastor, he said he was not surprised because Mathematicians are crazy people, and that I was simply manifesting that madness. Have you surrendered all?

Key point: The simplest way to get everything God has to offer you is by offering Him everything you have including your will.

Thursday 23 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION THURSDAY 23rd MAY, 2013 CLEAN ENOUGH? BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. Isaiah 52:11

Read: Zechariah 3:1-7
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 28-30

In today's Bible reading, we read of how Joshua the high priest, who was both a representative of God and a divine champion, was standing before an angel, putting on filthy garments. You would notice that God's attention was focused on the dressing of His priest. Some people tell us today that since the inward appearance is more important to God, we should play down the outward appearance. The truth is they are both important before God. If you are God's representative, God is interested in your inner beauty as well as your outward dressing. God wants to know whether your physical clothes are clean or dirty. If you are a Christian but you are dirty, you need reorientation and renewal of your mind. Some sisters leave their hair unkempt and unwashed until it begins to breed lice. Some brothers will wear the same boxers for one or two weeks. Some people do not have their bath or even brush their teeth in the name of fasting. No wonder whenever they are doing a private fast the whole world knows. What is keeping God and His favour away from some of His children is not sin but dirt.
Demons are spiritually unclean beings so they flock around where there is sin and dirt. If you visit the houses of some people, dirty clothes will adorn the settees. You will have to wait for them to move the clothes off before you find space to sit down. Some people will eat and pile up dirty plates until there is no clean plate. Even when they give you what they claim to have washed, you will still see traces of food sticking to the plates, cups, cutlery and pots. If you are a dirty person, it will show wherever you go. Some people take their dirty habits to church. They will litter where they sit with sweet wrappers, water sachets, and empty water bottles etc. instead of disposing them properly. Personal hygiene is very important both for healthy living as well as for relating with God and man. Are you keeping God far away from you by being unhygienic?

Key point: All-round cleanliness is required to relate with God as His representative.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION WEDNESDAY 22nd MAY, 2013 DANCING FOR YOUR OWNER BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: And .David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 2 Samuel 6:14

Read: 2 Samuel 6:12-16
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 25-27

Beside standing and lifting up holy hands and going on your knees, you can also dance in worship of the Most High God. When the African dog is wagging its tail at its owner, it is acknowledging its owner. So when you dance before God with all your heart, you are acknowledging God as your owner. This does not include sexually provocative dancing. Some ladies dance to attract men and vice versa while some others dance to please God. Let your dance glorify God. If you truly dance to please the Lord, acknowledging Him as your owner and thanking Him with all your heart, you will not leave His presence empty. You will leave with a load of His presence and power.
Also, the way you react when you receive news of a Kingdom victory is an indicator of whether the direction of flow of your heart mirrors that God. How do you feel when you hear that a soul has just been saved? If you ask how the Lord feels, you can be sure that Heaven will declare a party and they will be dancing to God's glory including Jesus Christ Himself. For just one soul! Then what do you think will happen when 10,100, 500, 1000 or 10,000 souls are won to Him in a day? How do you feel? Has such Kingdom news ever made you dance?
"And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod''
2 Samuel 6:14
When the captured Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Israel, King David danced with all his might. He laid aside his position as king and danced as a subject of the King of kings. He did not know when he put aside his robe that was hindering him from dancing, and he began to leap and dance as a 'commoner' before Israel. It is even possible he did some acrobatic display. David truly was a man after God's heart! He did not care about the opinions of men but of God. The truth is, when a king is before the King of kings, he must forget his position and pay due homage to Him who enthroned him. Are you too refined, too cultured, or too honourable to dance for your Owner?

Key Point: If you cannot dance for God, who else would you dance for?

Tuesday 21 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION TUESDAY 21th MAY, 2013 FAVOUR ERADICATES EMPTINESS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: Exodus 3:21

Read: Exodus 3:21-22
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 22-24

The trial of your faith is very important as it plays a major role in your life. Nobody knows it all nor is fully prepared for what God wants to use him or her for. This is why God sometimes uses trials to prune us and beat us into shape so that we can conform to His will. In any trial you face, may God's purpose for taking you through it be accomplished in Jesus name.
"And I will give this people favour in the sight of all Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:" Exodus 3:21

After the trial of your faith, comes the release of God's favour. One benefit of favour is that it prevents emptiness in the life of its beneficiary. For over 400 years, the Israelites laboured without pay, and there was no way they could take their' oppressors to court. But the night God released favour to them after the Holy Communion, the curse of emptiness was totally destroyed from their lives. There are some people who have laboured for months or even years without pay. They could not take legal action against their oppressors. In some cases, some of those oppressors are fellow believers and even ministers of God who refuse to pay workers their dues. This is a situation of emptiness. It is a curse and not a blessing. If you are going through this, the Lord will terminate that situation in your life this season, and His favour will deliver what is pending to you. There is a User of this Devotional, for about three years, you laboured but could not take of the fruit. Congratulations! God has just smiled on you with His favour. What has been pending shall be speedily delivered to you. As you receive it, go and give thanks to God in your local parish and share your testimony to encourage others. Where there is no favour, there is bound to be emptiness, but when there is favour, emptiness ceases and abundance comes in. This season, abundance shall take over from the emptiness you have suffered in Jesus name. It is your season of favour.

Prayer point: Father; let Your favour completely swallow up every emptiness in my life.

Monday 20 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION MONDAY 20th MAY, 2013 SIGNS STOPS OPPONENTS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Isaiah 8:18

Read; Acts 13:6-12
Bible in one year Psalm 22-24

Signs and wonders have a way of instigating faith and compelling belief. You cannot tell the impact just one sign or miracle will have on the assignment of a church, particularly if it is a notable or spectacular miracle. For instance, in the early church, when signs and wonders were wrought by the hands of the apostles, great multitudes were converted to the Christian faith (Acts 5:12-14). You need the power of the Holy Spirit in order to demonstrate to unbelievers that our God still performs wonders. In the life of a User of this Devotional, the Lord is beginning a spate of signs and wonders that will draw many to His kingdom. When the Lord does this, share your testimony and give God all the glory. You are for signs and wonders from now on. Even your children will begin to testify of the wonders that God will be performing through them.

In a meeting of apostles that was held some years ago, someone made a particular remark. He said that here in Africa we go for signs whereas they in the developed countries go for wisdom, as if we were focusing on the wrong thing. I replied that we go for signs and our churches are overflowing with people, but they go for wisdom and their churches are empty. In Acts 13:6-12, while preaching to a governor, a sorcerer tried to disturb the message, Paul simply commanded him to be blind for a period. The sorcerer left their presence blind. When the governor saw this, he immediately accepted Jesus. Even today, there are many agents of darkness like the sorcerer who do everything to hinder the spread of the Gospel. If you put the power of the Spirit to play and a wonder takes place, nothing will hinder those you are preaching to. Sometimes, you need the power to demonstrate the superiority of God's power above contending powers. When this is done, God's Kingdom will record a great harvest like on Mount Carmel. In addition, you and your family need signs and wonders. When the enemies try to hurt you but fail according to the promise in Isaiah 54:17, it is a glorious experience as they may end up surrendering to you, and asking to be introduced to your God. Ask God to manifest His power in your life as never before.

Action point: If antagonists of the Gospel experience a sign, they will change. Ask that antagonists of the Gospel would experience the wonder that will move them from their evil path.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SUNDAY 19th MAY, 2013 BE FERVENT IN SERVICE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Romans 12:11

Read: Romans 12:10-11
Bible in one year: Psalm 19-21

Another mark of a committed believer is commitment to God's work. You cannot be in your Father's house just warming the bench or pew while others are very busy. The committed believer is too happy to take on a task for the Master. If you want to frustrate such an individual, take away the assignment he or she was given, and it will seem his or her life is about to crash. This is so because the life of the committed revolves around service to the Most High God. Even when such fellow offends and is disciplined, it will be glaring to all that the fellow is going through an unpleasant moment. Did you say you are committed to God? Then what are you doing for God? You can't be idle in God's house and be committed. The committed does not choose tasks to be done. Send the fellow to stand outside the gate as a security personnel, he will be happy. Ask him to go and join sanitation workers where he will be cleaning toilets, he will be glad. The way he will handle tasks look down upon by most people, will elicit interest in other people about that task. Are you committed to God?
In addition to working for God, when the committed believer works for God, his target is nothing less than excellence. He wants to do the work in such a way that will glorify God. Do you know you can do God's work shoddily, and in the process stir up God's anger against you? Our Lord Jesus Christ served God with passion. His zeal was overwhelming. If you met Jesus doing something, you will be attracted to join Him because He did it from His heart, with zeal and passion so that the Father may be glorified. The focus of the committed is the One who commissioned him. How do you handle divine assignments? Are you selective or do you happily take on whatever God assigns to you through your pastor? If you have been running from serving God, stop running! Ask God for forgiveness and inform your pastor that you are now ready to serve God. He will lead you on how to become relevant in God's house.

Action point: Prayerfully pick 5 non committed members of your church and follow them up until they are fully committed.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SATURDAY 18th MAY, 2013 HE DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Read: Isaiah 55:10-11

God's Word is full of power. When He speaks, it is done. Once God speaks, the impossible will immediately become possible because every Word of God contains enough power to actualise what the Word is meant to do. Hence Isaiah 55:10-11 says God's word cannot return empty to Him. In the name of Jesus, every good prophetic word that has been sent into your life shall not return empty to God, but fulfil its mission. Sometime ago, one of my daughters came to tell me she was three months pregnant. I congratulated her but she said she came because she wanted the baby to be a girl. I told her that from the little science I know, whether a child will be a boy or girl will be determined within 72 hours of conception. She protested saying that that was not what I earlier taught them, that I had taught them with God all things are possible. She simply requested for me to agree with her that the baby will be a girl. We prayed that prayer of agreement and six months after, the baby girl came. Just recently, the girl was given out in marriage.

The above testimony triggered another. A particular female medical doctor whose husband was also a medical doctor, was eight months pregnant with a fifth child after having had four daughters. She heard the sister's testimony and came to me. She said her husband's relatives who were desperately in need of a boy, had threatened that if the fifth baby was a girl, they would chase her out of her matrimonial home. Her request was for her eight months old baby to become a boy. I told her being a medical doctor, she should know better, but she said she had not come for science but as a result of the other sister's testimony she heard. So we agreed. A month later, the baby boy was delivered. What is that situation that appears impossible to men? It is not impossible to God. Mention that urgent need of your life that does not violate God's word and will glorify God. I join my faith with yours today and decree that the Lord shall establish it speedily and you shall testify. But if that desire in any way violates God Word or will, it shall not be honoured.

Prayer Point : Father; frustrate, disappoint and paralyse every satanic plot to make Your good Word redundant concerning me and my situation.

Friday 17 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION FRIDAY 17th MAY, 2013 YOU ARE GOD'S EYES BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Proverbs 3:22

Read; Daniel 2:19-23
Bible in one year: Psalm 13-15
 
In Psalm 17:8, while receiving terrible attacks from deadly enemies, David asked God to protect him as the apple of His eyes. The eyes can serve as a window to the heart. To read a man' s heart, you do not need to look at his mouth but his eyes. Why? The mouth could be saying one thing but the eyes would be saying something different Usually, what the eyes say is most likely true. In the same vein, God wants the world to read His mind by focusing or studying us believers - His eyes. May you not fail God in this special assignment.
In Genesis 41:14-36, Pharaoh had dreams but needed the apple of God's eyes - Joseph, to provide the interpretation. Similarly, King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams in Daniel 2:19-23, 4:19-27 and 5:10-29, but could not interpret them until he looked at the apple of God's eyes - Daniel. There are certain truths and understanding about God some people may never have until they set their eyes on you. But the question is: when they look at you, will they be able to read the mind of God?
One of the duties of the Holy Spirit is to show us future events John 16:13). He searches God's heart and correctly reveals to us what God is thinking about us. Amos 3:7 says before God does a thing, He would have first revealed it to His prophets. If you want to know the mind of God concerning an issue, you will be required to look through His eyes - His prophets. This does not mean that until you are tagged a prophet before God can reveal His secrets to you. There are many people who have a close walk with God that receive more heavenly secrets than some who are called prophets and prophetesses. If you are truly saved, baptised in the Holy Spirit and you allow the Holy Spirit have His way in your life, be prepared to share in His secrets. You are God's eyes and just as tears flow through the eyes so does God want to express His feelings through us.

Prayer point: Father thank You for making me Your eyes. Lord, help me to perform my role as Your eyes to the world.

Thursday 16 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION THURSDAY 16th MAY, 2013 STANDING BECAUSE OF OTHERS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Romans 14:21

Read: Romans 14:15-21
Bible in one year: Psalm 10-12

A divine champion represents his God, nation and family. Your success or otherwise as a representative affects those you represent. This is exemplified by football competitions where two competing nations are each represented by a team of 11 players. If any team wins, the country that they represent is said too have won, likewise if they fail, their country has failed. In 1 Samuel 17:51, when the champion of the Philistines died, the rest of the Philistine army took to their heels. Their high hopes and expectations disappeared when they lost their champion. Just one man died and a whole nation fled. When the enemies captured Samson in Judges 16:23-24, they said their god had delivered him into their hands. In other words, there was an invisible contest between their god and Samson's God and the former defeated the latter. As a minister or child of God, you represent the Most High God. As a result, every time you rail, you could cause people to say your God has failed.
The truths enunciated above have certain implications for believers today. The first is that your victory or defeat goes far beyond you. There are too many people waiting to see the end of your trial of faith. If you quit or fail, you may be sending the wrong signals to spectators whose spiritual lives depend on it. Also, when confronted with a battle, let your desire to win be for your God and not necessarily for yourself. If your expected victory is tied up with God, it will come easily because He will put His weight behind it. Another implication here is that leaders as divine champions must be very careful so as not to fall. Why? First for the sake of their own soul and for the stability of the faith of those they are leading. This is why it is advisable to avoid anything that can lead your members and young converts astray, even when you have a legitimate right to it. This means as a divine champion, you put God first and think of others before yourself. How have you been faring as a divine champion?

Action point: Pray that every Christian leader with sizeable following will not err from the right path. Also ask that those that have erred and are misleading others would return to God's path.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION WEDESDAY 15th MAY, 2013 FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16

Revelation 2:8-10
Bible in one year: Psalm 7-9

It is a dangerous thing to argue with your Commander-in-Chief when He has given you an order. When an order has been issued by the Lord, what He expects is nothing but prompt and total obedience. But are you saying 'If it is true, why then does God invite us to come and reason with Him as stated in Isaiah 1:18?' That invitation is to sinners and not to His soldiers. Although Isaiah 43:26 says you can plead together, yet I give you my candid advice not to accept that invitation. Job accepted that invitation but did not like its aftermath (see Job 40:1-5,7). Whenever something happens to you which you don't understand or cannot explain, please never query God. Whenever He is queried, God replies, only that you will not like what you will hear. God is no democrat: He rules by decrees. If you do not want any problems with Him, just obey.
God is not interested in your grammatical ability or theological knowledge but in your faithfulness. According to 1 Corinthians 4:2, if there is something God is expecting to see in you, it is faithfulness. To what extent should you be faithful? He wants you to be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). That means start with faithfulness, continue in it and die in it. Oh how He loves this in His soldiers! Revelation 12:11 says,
"And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb,, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death "
This means that victory over the forces of darkness is not total until you reach a point you are dead to self and the flesh. It is at this point that Satan will become afraid of you and God will be able to send you on almost any errand. But if your life is still very precious to you, fear will not allow you to take on certain delicate or dangerous assignments for the Lord. According to 1 John 3:16, the Lord expects us to be faithful unto death because every soldier is supposed to be a carbon copy of his or her Commander-in-Chief. Who do you resemble? Are you dead to sin, flesh, Satan and the world? Ask God for the grace to be faithful unto death.

Prayer point: Father grant me the grace to be faithful till the end.

Tuesday 14 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION TUESDAY 14th MAY, 2013 LEADERSHIP IN TRIAL BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5:8

Read: Hebrews 5:8-9
Bible in one year: Psalm 4-6

In Genesis 39:20-23, because of God's favour on Joseph, he earned the trust of the chief warder at an unprecedented level. This indicates that if people find it difficult to trust you, there is either an absence of divine favour on your life or you have shown yourself to be untrustworthy. Who will appoint a chronic womanizers leader of youths? May you grow in God's favour in Jesus name.
Another benefit of divine favour is that favour gives you a place of leadership even in your wilderness experience. If you take a look at the life of Joseph, you will find that the leadership qualities in him were bottled up while he was at home, but as soon as he was sold into slavery and got to Portipar's house, he began to express them. Same with when he got to the prison. This tells us that for some children of destiny, God will sharpen their leadership skills in the place of trials. While Joseph was with Portiphar, he was put in charge of Portiphar's household. He did it so well that God needed a fairly bigger place to train him. And when He saw that the prison was an ideal place for this, the Lord allowed what happened to happen. His master did not even ask Joseph to give his side of the story; the next thing was that he landed in prison. Joseph thought he was going from frying pan to fire but God thought otherwise; God was taking him from managing the household of an officer to managing several delinquents from the society. When he was through with this, God moved him from prison to the throne where he would manage the household of the king, of all the top leaders in the kingdom, and the various households in Egypt, as well as households of other nations. Beloved, what determines the type of training and trial you go through in life is where God is taking you. Know that your trial is truly a destiny outcry. Never look down on what you go through during a trial of faith. It is for your good. Even Jesus went through suffering because He needed to learn obedience. Every trial of faith is for a definite purpose. Find out and key into it with joy.

Key point: According to James 1:2-4, trials of faith should be received with joy because they are meant for our overall well-being. How do you receive them?

Monday 13 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION MONDAY 13th MAY, 2013 SIGNS URGENTLY NEEDED BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Then said Jesus unto him, Except you see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. John 4:48

Read: Acts 5:12-16
Bible in one year: Psalm 1-3

To soar above the heights as a divine eagle, you need to fly with both wings by combining wisdom with miracles. Matthew 28:18 says Jesus has received all power while Colossians 1:27 says Christ in us is the hope of glory. Armed with this knowledge, we should manifest the power that Jesus has received, since He is inside of us. Why do we need signs and wonders in our churches today?
"Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."
Signs and wonders facilitate the conversion of sinners. In Isaiah 7:14, the Lord gave His people the sign of a virgin conceiving the Saviour. This means God is not against signs. God uses signs to bring convictions and to fortify faith. When I newly became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1981, several people believed that I was not chosen by God, but that my appointment was all a manipulation. Then the Lord began to give them signs. In those days, we used to hold a monthly seminar. Then it happened that every first day of every seminar, we must have a baby which would always be a boy.

Isaiah 8:18 says we are for signs and wonders wherever we find ourselves as children of God. Signs and wonders were common place in the ministry of the apostles, particularly Peter. After the Holy Spirit's decent in Acts 2:1-41, they were so filled with power that with one simple message from Peter, 3000 souls were won. In Acts 3:1-11, another sign — the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate took place. Then another sermon from Peter converted 5000 souls all from one remarkable miracle (Acts 4:4). By the time a lying couple died prematurely, great multitude joined the Early church (Acts 5:12-16). If your church is not growing the way it should, it may be a pointer to your need for signs and wonders. Ask that God will perform the signs and wonders that will bring great crowds to Jesus in your local assembly.

Action point: Ask God for spectacular miracles in your local assembly. Pray that uncommon signs and wonder will be done by the hands of God's children worldwide.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SUNDAY 12th MAY,2013 DEVOTION TO HIS WORD BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:16

Read: Psalm 119:9-16
Bible in one year 1 Thessalonians 4-5

Besides commitment to an unbroken link with God and a personal commitment to God's presence, another factor that identifies someone who is committed to God is his or her attitude to God's word. If you are truly devoted to God, if will show in your level of commitment to His Word. You will deliberately find time to hear, read, study, memorise and meditate on it. You will also find time to put it into practice because hearing and not practicing what you have heard from the word makes you a hypocrite - one who deceives oneself. Hence James 1:22 says, if you hear God's word on restitution, tithing or loving those who hate you, but fail to obey, it shows you are not committed to the word. Every instruction you have received from the Bible, which you have not obeyed stands against you in the area of commitment.

If you are committed to the word, you will love it. It will become something very important and precious to you. In Psalm 119:9-16, the psalmist used God's word as an antidote to sinning against God. This means that, as he hid God's Word in his heart, it displaced all the evil thoughts to sin against God. If you also hide it in your heart by memorising and meditating on the word, it will be difficult for you to sin. Show me a Christian who often sins, and I will show you a Christian who is not committed to the word of God. In addition, in verse 14 of Psalm 119, the psalmist says God's word gives him joy. He sees every revelation that comes to him by studying the word to be as valuable as silver and gold. What value do you attach to the Word of God? If your quest for money is separating you from the word, it shows you are not committed to it; you value money above the word. If you are committed to the word of God, you cannot stand a day without it. Peter was so committed to Christ's words that he threw his net when he would ordinarily have refused that order (Luke 5:5). How committed are you to His instructions?

Key point: Your commitment to God's word shows how committed you are to God because God and His word are the same.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SATURDAY 11th MAY,2013 HIS DECREES STAND BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: For he spake, and it was done; he commanded and it stood fast. Psalm 33:9

Bible in one year: 2 Peter 1-3

Acts 15:18 says God already knows everyone He has created ever before the foundation of the world. Sometime ago, a lady was told by the doctors that she could never have a child because her womb was too small. Whenever she conceives, at the fifth month of her pregnancy, she experiences a miscarriage. So she wrote us and we prayed for her and the Lord said we should tell her that she will have children. We knew God cannot lie so we expected that God would fulfil His word by giving her children one at a time. But when she became pregnant, at delivery time, she delivered four children - two boys and two girls. While we were seeing one baby, God had already seen four. Are you poor today? God is seeing you in great wealth. Are you marginalised or treated as someone very insignificant today? God is seeing you as a very important personality - one that cannot be ignored. Pray that the good future that only God can see concerning you should come to reality in your life.
Moreover, when the Lord Jesus would heal the man at the pool of Bethesda recorded in John 5:2-9, He said, Rise! This tells us that God rules by decrees. Thank God that He is not a democrat. If God were to consult your friends before saving, healing, or blessing you, their feedback might have stopped Him. How many people want their friends to join the club of billionaires while they are still living in penury? Not many! And because God rules by decrees, He does not ask if the unpleasant situation is ready to let you go. He simply commands it to go. According to today's reading, when God commands, it is done. When He says rise, nothing and nobody can keep you down. When He says let there be light, no darkness can prevent the light from coming to be. Today, the Lord is saying this to you: Arise, Get up from that wheel chair! The Lord is saying, Arise from obscurity! Get up from sorrow and shame! Rise up from your down trodden position! It is your season of joy!

Action point: Pray that every negative decree against you and everything yours would be cancelled and that God's good decrees over your life will come to pass.

Friday 10 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION FRIDAY 10th MAY,2013 SALT OF THE EARTH BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing; but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13

Read: Acts 27:20-25
Bible in one year: 1 Peter 3-6

When God looked upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He said if He could just count 10 tiny lights, He would spare them (Genesis 18:20-32). Although every country has her peculiar problems, one of the greatest challenge is the inability of the lights in those countries to shine as lights. As light, your duty is to shine. Are you shinning in your little corner of the world? Can God see you as a light when He looks at where you are amidst the darkness? May you not fail God in Jesus name.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls you the salt of the earth. As salt, you are the sweetener He needs to sweeten the earth. This means that your presence alone can make a world of difference in an unpleasant, bitter situation. As sweetener, you can turn curses into blessing. A long standing curse that affected so many lives in Jericho suddenly terminated when a salt of the earth - Elisha stepped into the scene (2 Kings 2:19-22). Today, some geographical areas still have a particular curse operating against people from that location. It is the duty of the salt of the earth in those locations to break the curses. What is that persistent ailment or condition that has become a tradition in your family or lineage? Being the salt of the earth, you should research into its origin, make restitution where necessary, take authority in the name of Jesus Christ and break the curse. On Paul's way to Rome, there was a storm that could have claimed the life of everyone onboard the ship, yet his presence preserved lives (Acts 27:20-25). Your presence in a bus, vehicle, aircraft, train or ship can prevent a fatal accident or preserve lives even when an accident occurs. Those who live near you should be benefiting from your angelic body guards. Your presence in a family or organization can also bring prosperity as was the case with Joseph (Genesis 39:1-6). As the salt of the earth, your life should subtract the evils and add the blessings. Are you truly living as the salt of the earth?

Prayer point: Father; help me to live as salt of the earth. Make my life impactful.

Thursday 9 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION THURSDAY 9th MAY,2013 INVITING YOUR SUBSTITUTE? BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 1 Samuel 16:1

Read: 1 Samuel 15:10-14
Bible in one year: 1 Peter 1-2

If God should open your eyes to know who could possibly replace you, you will be seriously humbled. Some servants or subordinates that you are looking down upon today may unknown to them, be your replacements should you fail. You will be shocked that they could do a far better job of the assignment, and even succeed where you failed because one way or another, they have been understudying you and learning from your strengths and weaknesses. Has God given you an assignment? Do not joke with it! Strive never to fail God because He has some substitute waiting. This is one thing that keeps me humble having resolved never to be replaced until I finish my course. For this reason also, I will never do anything that will make God to replace me. What about you? If you used to win several souls to the Lord when you newly began the Christian race, but today you do not have time for God's most important activities; are you not creating room for your replacement?
God sent King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites but he thought he was smart, and decided to eat what was forbidden. Today, some believers and leaders are eating their tithes and that of others, and they think they are smart. No! They are not! Some ministers of God are sparing the Agag they should have destroyed and explaining it away. Some pastors have not only committed adultery, but are keeping a steady immoral relationship with female workers or even wives of members. Why will God not replace them? Look at your life: what are you doing to provoke God to replace you? Immediately return to Him with fasting and prayer. Make relevant restitutions now and begin to serve, worship and praise Him as you have never done. Beloved, consciously give God reasons why you should not be replaced by a substitute through your new height of love, obedience and service. Some people can never be replaced because of their level of commitment to God. You too can be one of them.

Key point: If you are pleasing God with the assignment He gave you and men decide to scheme you out:, and God allows them, God will give you something else that is far better, that will make them green with envy.

Wednesday 8 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION WEDNESDAY 8th MAY,2013 IS PEACE DWINDLING? BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: Isaiah 48:18

Read: Isaiah 48:17-19
Bible in one year: Ruth 1-4

If you are able to take care of the problem of sin, it means you have succeeded in shutting the door against poverty, sickness, defeat, etc. In Joshua 7:10-12, Israel suffered defeat from a weak enemy and Joshua went to the Lord to find out the cause. The Lord told him Israel had sinned and that if they got rid of the sin, victory would be regained. Are you a victim of defeat? Have you fallen face down before your enemies? Have you been unable to pass a particular test or examination? Examine yourself carefully and be sure that sin is not the cause. If it is, repent, and restitute where necessary and go for a return match. The Lord will give you victory in every battle in Jesus name.
When sin is gone, peace will come. Hence, Isaiah 48:18says,
"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." .
This tells us that disobedience is what is robbing many of God's children of their peace and joy. Isaiah 48:22 says, "There is no peace, saith the LORD; unto the wicked
This scripture is not restricted to only unbelievers; it also covers believers who venture into acts of wickedness against others. Every time you engage in an act of wickedness, you erode your peace. If you oppress your subordinates, you diminish your peace. And if you persist, your peace will continue to decrease until it gets to a point where there is no more peace in your reserves. At such a point, it will be very difficult to distinguish such a believer from the wicked who does not know God. This means that even though the Lord Jesus has given you peace when you accepted Him according to John 16:33, whether that peace will remain, increase or decrease is dependent on you. Lack of peace can affect one in any area of life. Cheating your fellow brother in a business transaction is at the expense of your peace. Breaking covenants, denying people their rights or entitlements are at the expense of your peace. If you steal what belongs to your neighbour, it is at the expense of your peace. Why lose peace when it can be multiplied by doing good to others and increasing their joy?

Action point: If your peace is giving way to trouble, there might be some wicked spot in your life. Look diligently at your life and make amends.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION TUESDAY 7th MAY,2013 FAVOUR EARNS TRUST BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Genesis 39:21

Read: Genesis 39:20-23
Bible in one year: Judges 19-21

The favour of God is a manifestation of God's presence. During his trial, Joseph was sold into slavery but God was with him. If God is with you, wherever you go, He goes. Also, if He is with you, the situation that is trying your faith does not and cannot drive God away from you. Whether you feel God's presence or not, as long as you are in His will, be rest assured that He is with you. As long as you cling to Him, nothing can separate you from God. This explains why you must seek His presence for the rest of your life.

When God is with you, you will enjoy favour. Favour usually comes with several other benefits. Let us see some of them. From today's reading, we see that favour makes you to earn people’s trust including that of your enemies. Can you imagine that the chief warder, who was paid by the state to oversee Joseph's punishment in the prison yard, was the same person who entrusted control of the prison and its occupants to him? Having found favour in his sight, Joseph was no more seen and treated like a prisoner but as an unofficial warder. He suddenly began to trust Joseph. In life, what you will become and even the heights you will attain are partly dependent on how much trust is reposed in you. Will you commit sensitive assignments into the hands of those you do not trust? I doubt it. This season, to reach your goal, you will ride on the trust of people including those meant to supervise your oppression in Jesus name. In additional to this, we see that favour makes men to trust you even to their detriment. If Joseph had released some prisoners into the wild, the government would have held the chief warder responsible. That could have cost him his life. Yet, he trusted him to his detriment. In your unpleasant situation, the favour of God will cause men to entrust you with great assignments. They will entrust more responsibilities to you including their lives without knowing what is motivating them to do so. On the other hand, are you trustworthy?

Key point: Looking at the life of Jesus, it is obvious that what God wants to do on an international level. He would start at a very little corner.

Monday 6 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION MONDAY 6th MAY,2013 THE CRUCIAL COMBINATION BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:21-24
Bible in one year: Judges 16-18

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be used to bring profit to the Kingdom of God by those who have them. They also make the life of those who possess them profitable. One thing we can learn from the life of Joseph is that the gifts helped him to fulfill his destiny. He was able to interpret the dreams which moved him from prison to the throne. Even Moses was able to endure the hardship he went through because he saw the invisible. The Lord will open your eyes to see the invisible and help you to fulfill your destiny.

In the story of the two disciples heading for Emmaus recorded in the Luke 24:30-35, we were told that they were with Jesus but they could not recognise Him. This means your physical eyes may be good but if you lack spiritual eyes, you may fail to see what you need to see which can change your life. Until the Lord went with them and broke bread with them, their eyes remained closed. There is something, your eyes need to see in order to positively affect your destiny. Until you see it, you may remain on the same spot for long. In the name of Jesus, that thing you need to see that will positively change your destiny shall be unveiled to you this season.

Isaiah 40:31 says those who wait on the Lord will not only exchange their weakness for His strength, but also soar like eagles. This year, you will soar like a divine eagle. But with what do eagles fly? They soar with two wings, not one. Any eagle that folds one wing and tries to fly with the other one will lose control of its motion. In the same way, we need two wings to soar: we need signs and wisdom, power and glory, gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Some years ago, I preached a sermon - Power and Glory to a small group of Bible study leaders ever before I became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. The Bible says Jews seek signs while Greeks seek wisdom. God is not condemning signs but is saying that to successfully transverse this world, every believer in Christ needs both. Some preachers focus on miracles but ignore wisdom. The minister who wants to succeed above his predecessor and still make it to Heaven needs wisdom, sign and wonders. Is any of these lacking in your life as a contemporary believer or minister? Ask God to help you today.

Prayer point: Father, fully equip me as your servant in these last days.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SUNDAY 5th MAY,2013 COMMITMENT TO HIS PRESENCE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17

Read: Psalm 55:16-17
Bible in one year: Judges 13-15

Your opinion of sin goes a long way to show your level of commitment to God your source. In Genesis 39:9, Joseph saw the temptation to sleep with his master's wife as a great wickedness against his source. How do you see sin? For many who claim to be believers today, sin is a tolerable event - something they do not mind doing once in a while, especially because they believe they can be forgiven. This view is not only wrong but also unfortunate. Going by what Joseph said, every fornicator is not just wicked but extremely wicked, irrespective of the fellow's profession of faith. If you are committed to an unbroken link with your source, you will definitely have zero tolerance for sin.
Another thing that identifies a committed individual is his commitment to God's presence. This could either be at a personal or corporate level. If you are committed to His presence, you will start your day by entering into His presence. One Bible character who did not joke with God's presence was David. He created time for personal fellowship with God on daily basis aside from corporate worship. In Psalm 55:17, he says,
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice."
Everyday is split into Evening, morning and noon. Yet, in each part of the day, David found time to personally fellowship with God. Do you make it a point of duty to enter into His presence before you leave the house in the morning, and before you go to bed? If you are truly committed to the Lord, you will not joke with His presence. If you can be in His presence very early in the morning to praise, worship and thank Him, and to hear from Him and thereafter commit your day into His hands, you can be sure that victory will be yours for that day. If you follow the life of Jesus, you will realise that the secret of His success in public ministry is His private prayer life. In addition to personal fellowship with God, the committed is equally devoted to God's house - house fellowship, regular and ad hoc church programmes. He is happy to attend a programme in God's house like David (Psalm 122:1). You cannot be committed to God and yet continue to make excuses for absenting yourself from God's house. If you are not committed to God's presence, you are not committed. How committed are you to God's presence?

Action point: If you are not excited about going into God’s presence, ask God to shed abroad by the Holy Ghost the love for His presence in your heart.

Saturday 4 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION SATURDAY 4th MAY,2013 HE ALREADY KNOWS BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Acts 15:18

Read: John 5:2-9
Bible in one year: Judges 9-12

In today's reading, we are told of how a particular man by a pool at Jerusalem was healed. He had been there for 38 years expecting that one day it would be his turn to enter into the pool after an angel visits the pool. But on this fateful day, instead of the angel he was expecting, the Creator of the angel visited him. This season, you will receive a personal visitation from the Most High God.
From this story, we can learn a few lessons. The first thing to note here is that Jesus saw him and knew that he had been there for 38 years. God has the ability to see into the past, present and future. Hence, Revelation 1:8 says, He is both Alpha and Omega. Also, when Jesus arrived at that pool, He saw a crowd of sick people - all waiting like this man to take advantage of each other to first enter into the pool. But the Lord walked straight to him and asked if he wanted to be healed. From this, we clearly see that the Lord had determined to heal him ever before He left- home that day. This clearly shows he already knew the man's situation of helplessness. Acts 15:18 says,
"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world"
God knows you and He is fully acquainted with what you are going through. Are you passing through a situation that people are aware of but they don't care about? Are you going through something so disgusting that you find it difficult to share it with others, including those who are close to you? God cares. He knows everything about that situation and He loves you. Infact He knows more than you think you know about the situation - the cause, present and future effects, as well as the cure, and much more. More importantly, He wants to do something about it if only you will let Him. Like He asked the man at the pool, so He is asking you today: Do you want to be made whole? In other words, do you want your situation to change? If you do, then let Him into your heart, trust in Him and open up completely to Him. He will surely hear you. God is making a way for you to come out of your unpleasant situation this season.

Prayer point : From the pit where I am and from the miry clay where I have been, Father lift me up now.

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION FRIDAY 3rd MAY,2013 THE GOD OF CHOICE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44

Read: John 6:43-44
Bible in one year: Judges 5-8

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the God of choice. He came to Abraham's extended family and chose only him for a special purpose (Genesis 12:1). Before that time, all we read about him was that he was the son of so and so. We never read that he was holy or that he loved or served the Lord. God just chose him. God did not choose Lot. Abraham came out of an idolatrous home yet God chose him. Similarly, but for the fact that God is a God of choice, there was no way David could ever have become a king. Unfortunately, today, many people think that they got saved by their wisdom, common sense or ability. In John 6:44 we read that it is the Father who pulls those who are saved to Himself. If you are saved today, it is because the Father chose you for salvation, after all, it is possible several people heard the same message that .you heard, but they refused to surrender to Jesus. A professor once said he gave his life to Christ in the darkness, and that if the electricity company had not cut off power supply, he would not have been able to profess Christ. God chooses who to save and who to bless (Luke. 5:1 -7).
Moreover, God is also a God of promise. In Genesis 12:1-3, God asked Abraham to do three things and thereafter He would do seven things. Abraham would have wondered what he did to provoke such great blessing from God. He does not only make promises but also fulfills them. There are many times men have disappointed us, not necessarily because they planned to, but because what they were expecting never got to their hands. Sometimes, it was a sickness that shook them to the point of non performance. In Isaiah 41:10-13, He promises to help you in all areas of your life - academic, financial, spiritual, marital, etc. When He is about to help and somebody plans to obstruct Him, you will just notice that the fellow has been uprooted. No matter how incredible His promises are, just believe and they will surely come to pass.

Action point: Thank God for choosing you. Ask that you will never do anything that will make Him to regret choosing you.

Thursday 2 May 2013

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTION THURSDAY 2nd MAY,2013 WATCH YOUR MOTIVE BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memorise: For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:18

Read: Romans 16:17-18
Bible in one year Judges 1-4

Samson was one Bible character who lived in self-will. He was more concerned about himself than the One who called and anointed him. When I studied this character, I discovered that Samson could be said to be among the worst ingrates. Many Christians today are equally ungrateful. When he was bound and brought to the Philistines and the power of God came on him, and he had victory over his enemies, he could not say a thank you. Rather, he attributed the victory to himself. Like Samson, many ministers do not know how to appreciate God. When a past Nigerian military head of state died and the streets were agog with joy, the Lord told me to watch, that not many Nigerians would thank Him. But I replied that I will tell every member of The Redeemed Christian Church of God to thank Him for a new dawn. Do you remember to thank Him for His mercies no matter how little they may be?
Watch you prayers and motives! Are you doing that divine assignment just for Him or for yourself? During the Marriage Super of the Lamb, one criterion that will be used for judging works done for the Lord is the motive. A popular world evangelist once said that some people are good because they cannot afford to be otherwise. Why are you doing that pastoral assignment? Why did you sign up to be a worker in God's vineyard? When you ask the question 'why' concerning works, you will be shocked at your findings. Although people will tell you they are in service for the love of God, you will find some who are there for the praise for men, some to please somebody, while some are in the service because of the honour attached to the office. If your motive is below what God requires, you may lose your works to the testing fire of the Lord. In the same way, if you want to attract great rewards in Heaven, it will depend on your motive. If your motive is to glorify God and impact or bless the lives of others, you will not go unrewarded. Motive is crucial in rewards. However, because the deed is external while the motive is internal, many people do not care much about serving God right. It is better not to do something good at all than to do it with the wrong motive. Having done it, you will have expectations but they will be disappointed.

Action point: If you work hard for God but with wrong motives, you pregnancy of reward expectations will deliver emptiness in Heaven.